The Shorthanded Goal

We start in the Oilers zone, with the pass going to Sergei Kostitsyn (74 for Nashville) at the point. Unfortunately for Kostitsyn, the puck is bouncing, and will end up hopping over his stick.

Sam Gagner (89 for Edmonton) picks up on this immediately. I’ve had mixed feelings about Gagner’s work on the penalty kill, but one thing he does do is challenge aggressively when this kind of opportunity arises.

Gagner, who takes some flak for his skating from time to time, starts off a step behind but beats Kostitsyn cleanly to the puck. Now it’s a 2-on-2 situation; Shea Weber (6 for Nashville) is between Gagner and the net; Lennart Petrell (37 for Edmonton) is behind Gagner but clear of any of the other Predators.

And here’s Sergei Kostitsyn shrugging off the lost race with Gagner and putting his hand in the air to indicate somebody should replace him on the ice. Hilariously, at the bottom of the screen Nashville head coach Barry Trotz is pointing at Petrell, but Kostitsyn isn’t looking at him. The assistant coach on the left side of the bottom of the screen is shaking his arm vigorously and probably yelling; Kostitsyn is oblivious. The coach's motions will get more frenetic as the play proceeds.

And now it’s a clear 2-on-1.

Weber holds back to play the shot a bit – Gagner’s in a vicious position, as he’ll have a glorious shot if Weber just plays the pass and leaves Rinne to take Gagner. Weber tries to stick check Gagner and as his stick flicks low Gagner makes the pass to Petrell. Roman Josi (59 for Nashville) at the bottom of the screen has just come on for the Predators, and can thank Kostitsyn for the minus he’s about to receive here.

Petrell blasts the puck by the goaltender.

It's an ugly play for Nashville, and one that Kostitsyn will doubtless have trouble living down. Likely it was just a tired player trying to get to the bench, but (as he admits a little further down) even without knowing Petrell was in the picture he should have kept pressuring Gagner as the Oilers' penalty-killer entered the Predators' end. It's a rarity to see such a blatant miscue by a forward in an NHL game.

The Quotes

I never speak about the other [team’s] players, the decisions they make. I was just pleased that the group came to play like this today and that our specialty teams decided the game. That was really a good thing for the group.

Barry Trotz:

Trotz on the Kostitsyn play that led to the Petrell goal: "I can’t give you a logical explanation for an illogical event"

I made a mistake. I went to change, I should have backchecked, but didn’t see the second guy was coming there… Even if it was a 1-on-1, I should go back, it doesn’t matter if I was tired. I should have gone back and pressured him from behind.

Jonathan Willis is a freelance writer.
He currently works for Oilers Nation, Sportsnet, the Edmonton Journal and Bleacher Report.
He's co-written three books and worked for myriad websites, including Grantland, ESPN, The Score, and Hockey Prospectus. He was previously the founder and managing editor of Copper & Blue.

SK was outta gas, its why Gagner blew by him. The play would of still happened, however Gagner may not have had time to cut to the middle of the ice like he did. Weber did not play the 2 on 1 terribly well either, he practically gave Gagner a breakaway. I think it shocked Rinne he passed. I was shocked when he passed to Petrell, cause he did his best Yakupov impression. Heck of release, congrats to the Finn.

Thats to funny I will bet there was a blog in Detroit a few days ago saying "Thanks for that Jeff Petry" and that poor bugger is from Detroit and I bet hes getting some ribbing for a while for that one.

Honestly, kids in novice know not to change when the play is heading back to your end. Inexcusable.

Maybe I am overstating things a bit, but if a single play can lead to the end of a career at least with an organization - this could be it. I can't see Ed Sullivan, I mean Barry Trotz, ever trusting this guy again.

Bizzare. Hate to say it but maybe there was some money in Russia bet on this one. I am kidding - especially if the Russian Mob reads ON.

If the Moscow Mob DOES read ON, I live on the Island and my name is really DSF.

SK was outta gas, its why Gagner blew by him. The play would of still happened, however Gagner may not have had time to cut to the middle of the ice like he did. Weber did not play the 2 on 1 terribly well either, he practically gave Gagner a breakaway. I think it shocked Rinne he passed. I was shocked when he passed to Petrell, cause he did his best Yakupov impression. Heck of release, congrats to the Finn.

Funny thing is that Kostitsyn had only been out ~15 seconds more than Gagner, and less than a minute in total. I know ideally shifts are in the ~45 second range, but he seems awfully gassed for less than a minute of power play ice-time.

Thats to funny I will bet there was a blog in Detroit a few days ago saying "Thanks for that Jeff Petry" and that poor bugger is from Detroit and I bet hes getting some ribbing for a while for that one.

That was a painful play by Petry, but there's a sizable difference between putting the puck in your own net on a clearing attempt and heading to the bench in the middle of an opposition rush with just one man back.

Funny thing is that Kostitsyn had only been out ~15 seconds more than Gagner, and less than a minute in total. I know ideally shifts are in the ~45 second range, but he seems awfully gassed for less than a minute of power play ice-time.

Edit: Disregard, I'm a dummy who can't use shift charts.

According to the shift chart, Kostitsyn's shift started at 9:30 and was 1:22 long. I'm sure the length of the shift was part of why he was eager to change, although obviously if he sees Petrell, he stays on.

According to the shift chart, Kostitsyn's shift started at 9:30 and was 1:22 long. I'm sure the length of the shift was part of why he was eager to change, although obviously if he sees Petrell, he stays on.

Aargh. You're right of course - I looked at the shift chart but had the wrong segment isolated. Well, that makes way more sense than what I was saying.

I thought this was a brilliant move by kostitsyn but he had to deal with teammates who had no idea what he was doing. He was tired, so he got off at one end of the bench (closest to opposing net) and anticipated someone would quickly relieve him at the otherside of the bench (closest to own net) Thereby being much closer to gagner and able to stop the goal from happening. But his replacement was too slow on getting on the ice.

I know it's a 1:22 shift but it was on the point on the power play. I know down low it's tough work but he was on the point where the battles are much fewer in number and generally the point man doesn`t get involved in the side board battles because they have to slide back to make sure they don`t give up a break away or odd man rush. You'd think Kostitsyn would be able to gut it out enough to back check and at least help take the pass lane away from Gagner.

Im surprised Sam passed it now that I look at it again. He was in the best spot possible. If Petrell would have missed it we would be livid. Weber didnt look too good on that either. Thats what my old coach would call sitting on the fence.

I found it interesting that Gagner seemed to be telegraphing intent to pass the whole way in. I gotta wonder if he was hoping Weber and Rinne would take the bait so he'd have a clear shot. And then when they didn't fall for it, he passed anyway. Good on Petrell for the hustle to get up and provide the option, and then for the solid finish.

That's an illegal play. You can't use a shift change to gain position on the ice. I'm not saying it would have been caught, but it probably would have been.

As another said this isnt a rule in minor or pro hockey.

In fact, there is one team in the AJHL that uses this exact technique as a plan for springing guys for breakaways from defensive zone faceoffs. They win the draw in their end...a winger skates off to change at the nearest door and out races another from the far door.

a comedy of errors! Rinne has been leaky. Job of defender on 2 on 1? Take away the pass. Weber either blantantly or sub conciously does not trust Rinne so backs in too far as to be ineffective. He knows the goalie has to take the shooter, but.....And then there's Kostitsyn with the classic play that all russians will be cursing him for as it was the stereotypical 'lazy ivan'. At least Yak wouldn't have flaked. But he realises he screwed up, so i forsee sitting for a game or two and lots and lots of video!

The part of that play that really impressed me was Petrell's shot. Low and to the far side, if Rinne would have got a pad on it the rebound would have gone straight to Gags. Lots of young (and vets for that matter) would have gone for the top cheese.. Love that Petrell had the discipline to take that shot correctly.

All of the Preds skaters were on the ice for about the same time as Kostitsyn. No doubt a long shift because they were pressing. But bailing on your team? Wow. Unforgiveable. Actually, Krueger should maybe get a props because he manages the shifts pretty good from game to game. It's only really Hall and Ebs that stay out too long on occasion.

I likeit when its the other team making the mental errors. Its good to get a break once every season or two. The Ebs goal was nice to see. far and few this season. I was yelling shoot at my TV all the way. Good for us. Ebs breaks out of his funk and RNH has a goal in the last game also. Perhaps there is hope for us yet.

San Jose is next on the schedule. Why isn't SJ a better team? They look good on paper but other than the beat down they delivered to us early on this season they look totally beatable. They definitely need something.

How bad are the Buffalo Sabres? And how JW are the Ottawa Senators continuing to get such incredible timely scoring and defense from kids like Silferberg and Zibnejad? Amazing story. Paul Maclean should be a candidate for coach of the year with that team. Amazing.

How over hyped are the Leafs? And do you see them falling out of the race now that they have come back down to earth? There goaltending is really questionable. Will Lou be in TO by April 3rd?

Montreal? Are they big enough to compete in the playoffs? Gionta,Desharnais,Gallager? Man they are small up front.But getting the job done now. But in a 7 game series against Boston or Philly?

Petrell should take the opportunity to take more shots, even though he is a 4 th liner with limited ice time..fewmore like that and maybe he gets upped to the third line, or even get a new contract. Good on him..

For a team missing their best players, I though we should have dominated the play........instead we go out shot.

I know you are not supposed to be critical of a win, but we are still a long way from being the team that RK would like..........puck possession and forcing the play in all three zones.

I like that the players are providing greater puck support but it seems that they are always bunched up and as a result have less time and space to break the play out. This is especially true for Eberle and RNH..........spread out a little boys!

SK was outta gas, its why Gagner blew by him. The play would of still happened, however Gagner may not have had time to cut to the middle of the ice like he did. Weber did not play the 2 on 1 terribly well either, he practically gave Gagner a breakaway. I think it shocked Rinne he passed. I was shocked when he passed to Petrell, cause he did his best Yakupov impression. Heck of release, congrats to the Finn.

Yea SK was out of gas because you burn a lot of energy floating around the point on a power play....how about giving Gagner a little credit!

I likeit when its the other team making the mental errors. Its good to get a break once every season or two. The Ebs goal was nice to see. far and few this season. I was yelling shoot at my TV all the way. Good for us. Ebs breaks out of his funk and RNH has a goal in the last game also. Perhaps there is hope for us yet.

San Jose is next on the schedule. Why isn't SJ a better team? They look good on paper but other than the beat down they delivered to us early on this season they look totally beatable. They definitely need something.

How bad are the Buffalo Sabres? And how JW are the Ottawa Senators continuing to get such incredible timely scoring and defense from kids like Silferberg and Zibnejad? Amazing story. Paul Maclean should be a candidate for coach of the year with that team. Amazing.

How over hyped are the Leafs? And do you see them falling out of the race now that they have come back down to earth? There goaltending is really questionable. Will Lou be in TO by April 3rd?

Montreal? Are they big enough to compete in the playoffs? Gionta,Desharnais,Gallager? Man they are small up front.But getting the job done now. But in a 7 game series against Boston or Philly?

I think he is the coach of the year to this point. How do you keep winning with with out a Norris Defensemen winner, your top scorer and 1st line center, a bunch of kids, 40 yer old Alfredson, and Sergei "I should be playing in Siberia" Goncher. Anderson has even had some injuries so far, and Bishop and Lehner have been lights out. Paul MacLean brilliance has only been matched by the brilliance of Murray as GM. Heck I'd be willing to say we should stop talking about the Detroit model and start talking about the Ottawa model of running an organization. They should of been stuck in a rebuild if it was not for the sheer brilliance of Murray.

If Ottawa is competitive to the end, I'll be surprised. I've found that this lunch pail crew of kids on and old farts to be the second best story after the Chicago dominance so far this year.

Yes, the Oilers should mail Kostitsyn flowers after this. I couldn't believe my eyes on that play and noted that the Nashville coaches couldn't either!

Speaking of brainfarts, I thought Hemsky was cheating for offence on the Predators' second goal. He was circling past the blue line and left his defenceman open to walk in and score.

I agree and so was Hall, not a good example of how to play shut down defense in the last minutes of a game by the line that's supposed to lead by example...I'm sure the coach's will be saying wtf when they review the video. I always thought in these situations the rule was to keep yourself between the opposition player and your net at all times, not throw a hail mary poke check and try to jump by the dman on the wall for an open net goal...

Yea SK was out of gas because you burn a lot of energy floating around the point on a power play....how about giving Gagner a little credit!

I never trashed Gagner. How about you stop reading between lines. Sergei was gassed or lazy though, who knows why. Any guy looks fast as hell when the other guys not moving his feet much. Watch the play again. Gagner showed great effort and determination to get to a loose puck, Sergei was either gassed, lazy or both.

Sam's skating been fine this year, he's never going to be all world but its adequate. Some of your Sam nuthugers gotta relax. I like the kid.

So is anyone excited by the fact that yes we are two points out of a playoff spot, but we're only four points out of first in the division?

I mean, it might actually be easier to get into the playoff by taking the top spot in the division that it would to fight it out for eighth. Kind of like Washington and the Panthers last year when every time one would win, they'd be in third, and every time the other would lose, they'd be in ninth.

Even if we don't get in, it marks a real return to the once competitive North west division. And with realignment next year, could be even closer. Although, I think we lose Colorado and Minnesota to the other division. Hopefully Vancouver wins in regulation tonight against Minny to keep it close.

So is anyone excited by the fact that yes we are two points out of a playoff spot, but we're only four points out of first in the division?

I mean, it might actually be easier to get into the playoff by taking the top spot in the division that it would to fight it out for eighth. Kind of like Washington and the Panthers last year when every time one would win, they'd be in third, and every time the other would lose, they'd be in ninth.

Even if we don't get in, it marks a real return to the once competitive North west division. And with realignment next year, could be even closer. Although, I think we lose Colorado and Minnesota to the other division. Hopefully Vancouver wins in regulation tonight against Minny to keep it close.

Vancouver who? They are in a mire so deep that they might fall out of the playoff picture in the next 10 games. Nobody's scoring and they have no one to replace Kesler. Please anyone please need a goaltender is the mantra in Vancouver. Only way they are going to fill that gaping hole down center. You think they are not rethinking that trade last year with Buffalo? Man that trade looks worse and worse every time the Nucks play without Kesler.who knew he was that important. all the focus is on the twins and they have nothing to alleviate that pressure. Too bad and too sad. No pity violins from me for the Nucks. let them fall. They deserve it.

That had to be one of the most brutal plays Ive seen ever. Petry's goal is almost fogivable after this boner of a play. I honestly thought Kostitsyn had hooked him or something but he just gave up on the play. Terrible play, this one is almost as laughable as the time Hemsky passed it cleanly to Thornton, at least that didnt lead to a goal.

Really odd, usually it's our Oilers making those same mistakes over and over again. Fully expected Weber to win this game on his own, but that play certainly was the turning point. Preds sure don't appear to be the same team without that second stud anchoring the blueline.

Really odd, usually it's our Oilers making those same mistakes over and over again. Fully expected Weber to win this game on his own, but that play certainly was the turning point. Preds sure don't appear to be the same team without that second stud anchoring the blueline.

But the Wild are :)

Who could have seen that coming????

" Fletcher estimated it would take Suter 20 games to acclimate to his new surroundings.

If true, if it actually would take the Wild’s biggest minute-muncher 20 games to settle in, what would that do to the Wild in such a truncated season?

“I’m sitting there thinking, ‘Twenty games is too long. If he says it’s 20, I’m going to try to make it 10,’ ” Suter said.

Guess what? Game 11 was Feb. 9 against his old Nashville Predators. Suter assisted on both goals, including Devin Setoguchi’s overtime winner, and ever since, not only has Suter taken off, so has the Wild.

The Wild is 11-5-1 since, and leads the Northwest Division heading into Monday night’s clash with the Canucks.

In those 17 games, Suter has 19 points and is plus-4. He not only leads the Wild with 23 points in 27 games (Jared Spurgeon led Wild defensemen with 23 points in 70 games last season), Suter is second among all NHL defensemen in both points and assists (21)."

I was listening on the radio to the game and they kept talking about Horcoff not on the bench and I thought well they just traded him,Peckham,Potter and Omark for Webber.I know this would have been funnier a couple of weeks ago before all the talk of the Oilers record with Horcoff in the lineup vs out of it. Does anyone know there record with Fistric in.

Any chance you can call your buddy Talon and have him free up Gudbranson after another season of falling short of expectations, for us DSF?

There has to come a time where a deal like this could be made and help both clubs. Florida looks to be a lock for 30th this year. Things aren't going as planned i'd have to think for Dale. Smid and the first in 2013 (projected to be in that 7-9 range) for him?

Vancouver who? They are in a mire so deep that they might fall out of the playoff picture in the next 10 games. Nobody's scoring and they have no one to replace Kesler. Please anyone please need a goaltender is the mantra in Vancouver. Only way they are going to fill that gaping hole down center. You think they are not rethinking that trade last year with Buffalo? Man that trade looks worse and worse every time the Nucks play without Kesler.who knew he was that important. all the focus is on the twins and they have nothing to alleviate that pressure. Too bad and too sad. No pity violins from me for the Nucks. let them fall. They deserve it.

Ah, when I made that post all I saw was that Minny was in top spot with 32 pts. I assumed Van was lower, like 31 or something. I didn't know the two teams were tied for points. So really, it doesn't matter who wins really, just as long as it's done in regulation, to keep the head of the NW division within our reach.

I agree Vancouver is really showing where it's weak this year without Kesler, or really any second line to speak of. I also want to go back in time and make that Luongo trade happen to Florida in the off season, as it's clear they would have lost so many more games relying on Schnider.

I always saw Vancouver as a pretty deep team, but this year, especially lately, they seem a bit thin.

I am looking forward to having Winnipeg in the West next year as I have so much more respect for Winnipeg fans then I do for Vancouver fans.

Here's to the Oil Getting a few more wins under their belt with this current home stand and challenging not just for a playoff spot, but for first in the division.

Any chance you can call your buddy Talon and have him free up Gudbranson after another season of falling short of expectations, for us DSF?

There has to come a time where a deal like this could be made and help both clubs. Florida looks to be a lock for 30th this year. Things aren't going as planned i'd have to think for Dale. Smid and the first in 2013 (projected to be in that 7-9 range) for him?

The Panthers have been decimated by injury.

Here's the list of games missed:

Jovanowski - 23

Weiss - 22

Upshall - 21

Versteeg - 19

Thodore - 14

Santorelli - 11

Weaver - 10

Kulikov - 9

Gudbranson - 9

Goc -6

Any team would be devastated by that number of man games missed from their top line, defense and goaltending.

Unfortunately for Tallon, the two players he was most likely to trade at the deadline, Weiss and Versteeg are out for the rest of the season.

That Huberdeau is leading the Calder trophy race with 12 goals and 18 points is nothing short of amazing considering the team around him.